John Osea, editor
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro at its annual launch event, Wonderlust. The phone will support his 6G, but will it be an improvement over 5G?
At the time of this writing, Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro on September 15th at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California. According to 9to5Mac, the next-generation iPhone “brings significant upgrades including new colors, improved battery performance, a switch from Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector to his USB-C, faster charging, and highly improved camera capabilities.” Rumor has it. “New versions of the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra are also expected.”
Additionally, MacRumors reports that Apple plans to add Wi-Fi 6E support to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This enables faster, more reliable wireless connectivity, but the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will continue to be supported. Normal Wi-Fi6.
“Wi-Fi 6 operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while Wi-Fi 6E also operates in the 6 GHz band for increased bandwidth,” writes MacRumors. “Wi-Fi 6E delivers faster wireless speeds, lower latency, as long as a supported device is connected to a Wi-Fi 6E router available from brands like TP-Link, Asus, and Netgear. , provides less signal interference.”
and you may ask yourself
So what does Wi-Fi 6E mean for the iPhone 15 Pro? The standard is relatively new, so many users may not have seen much of its benefits yet, but it’s important to know. AppleInsider reports.
“The standard has been introduced into the home via routers from companies like Linksys and TP-Link since 2021. Apple expects the M2 processors used in current Macs and iPads to arrive in June 2022. “We didn’t start supporting Wi-Fi 6E until after,” AppleInsider wrote. “The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra) will use Apple’s next-generation A17 processor, built on the same process as the M2, which means these devices will support his Wi-Fi 6E. I will.”
When providing network connectivity over a Wi-Fi network, routers rely on different bands. For example, Wi-Fi 6 offers 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while Wi-Fi 6E expands on that by introducing a new 6 GHz band. Additionally, Wi-Fi 6E offers up to 160 MHz channels, which is especially useful for streaming content and using VR. These new bands and channel bandwidths reduce congestion on the same network. Additionally, in environments with many devices, Wi-Fi 6E can provide up to 56 new channels to reduce interference.
inevitable downside
Owning a Wi-Fi 6E product is not enough. Your router should also be upgraded to the new standard. However, not many people buy a new router every time a new standard is introduced, so it is unlikely that most users will benefit from this new standard right away.
“However, device support or new routers don’t guarantee faster Wi-Fi 6E speeds,” AppleInsider writes. “The new, faster 6GHz speeds only work if the device is nearby and unblocked by walls or other obstructions. In some cases, especially when discussing desktop Macs, wired is better. is still a good solution. If your router is located in a convenient location in your home, you may get faster speeds, but that’s not always the case.”
good news, bad news
Is the inevitable jump from 5G to 6G worth it? Maybe yes, but probably not.
According to PhoneArena, Samsung, a company with a vested interest in 6G, says the new technology is a winner. “The tech giant took the time to remind everyone about 6G and the possibilities it brings at IFA 2023.” He specifically pointed to the potential of 6G when combined” (artificial intelligence) and XR (enveloping augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality). ”
Samsung says the most noticeable improvement is a significant increase in speed. Sixth generation cellular networks also reduce latency, allowing for faster and more accurate action over longer distances. Additionally, 5G can only support around 10-11 devices per square kilometer, while 6G can support up to 107 devices simultaneously. This means higher connection density and more people can use the network at the same time.
Researchers have discovered alarming vulnerabilities in key 6G technologies that could allow hackers to exploit weaknesses in programmable metasurfaces to launch two new types of attacks, TechRadar reports. there is. This technology will be key in the rollout of his 6G network.
“Programmable metasurfaces are electromagnetic surfaces designed to be integrated into everyday objects such as wallpaper or window glass, with the goal of optimizing communication channels,” TechRadar writes. “This technology could be the key to unlocking the full potential of 6G in the future. Speeds are expected to be orders of magnitude faster than some of the best 5G home broadband and wireless networks. Masu.”
Researchers from Peking University, Sannio University, and Southeast University have published a paper stating that metasurfaces can be exploited to launch active and passive attacks against wireless networks.
Researchers Lianlin Li, Vincenzo Galdi and Tie Jun Cui told Tech “The risk of attack is a major concern.” “Our project is focused on identifying potential risks associated with programmable metasurfaces, a key enabling technology for the envisioned 6G environment.”
In certain situations, someone could use a metasurface to eavesdrop on the radio exchange between two devices and cause signal interference. Rapidly changing the properties of the metasurface can also impede communication between routers and their users, slowing down data transfer rates.
In the event of an active attack, the attacker could send false data to the user while monitoring the connection. By leveraging metasurfaces, attackers can increase the speed of sending fake data while reducing the effectiveness of legitimate connections. All of this can happen without the attacker being easily detected.
“We are committed to continuing our research and shaping secure 6G networks by considering both the benefits and challenges associated with programmable metasurfaces,” said Li, Galdi, and Cui. “Currently, we are focused on developing targeted defenses against physical layer attacks by leveraging strategies such as beamforming, coordinated jamming with artificial noise, index modulation, and adaptive modulation.”
